Controlling apparatus for highway-crossing signals



Aug. 1929- c. A. BROOKS 1,726,098

CONTROLLING APPARATUS FOR HIGHWAY CROSSING SIGNALS Filed April 17. 19282 Sheets-Sheet. 1

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Aug. 27, 1929. c, BROOKS 1,726,098

I CONTROLLING APPARATUS FOR HIGHWAY CROSSING sIGNALs Filed April 17,1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.5.

2 Fig.2.

INVENTORI Cfi- Brno/ Patented Aug. 27, 1929.

STATS CHARLES A. BROOKS, 0F SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THEUNEQN "rear Pr ce.

SWITCH d: SIGNAL COMPANY, 0F SXVISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPOEATIGN 01PENNSYLVANIA.

CONTROLLING APPARATUS FOR I-IIGHW'AY-CROSSING' SIGNALS.

Application filed April 17, 1923.

My invention relates to controlling apparatus for highway crossingsignals, that is, to means for the control of signals which are placedat intersections of railways and highways for the purpose of warningusers of the highway when a train is approaching a crossing.

One feature of my invention is the provision of a polarized relay inplace of the interlocking relay ordinarily used in such apparatus.

1 will describe three forms of apparatus embodying my invention, andwill then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view illustratingone form of apparatus embodying my invention as applied to a crossingbell. Fig. 2 is a View showing a modified form of the apparatus of 1applied to an automatic iiagman of the wig-wag type and also embodyingmy invention. Fig. 3 is a view showing another modified form of theapparatus of Fig. 1 applied to a flashing light signal and alsoembodying my invention.

Similar reference characters refer to simi lar parts in each of thethree views.

Referring first to Fig. 1, reference characters 1 and 1 designate thetrack rails of a stretch of railway track intersecting a highway H.Insulated joints 2 divide the track rails 1 and 1 into two insulatedtrack sections A-B and B-C, the junction B being located at or near thehighway crossing H. A signal S, of the crossing bell type, is placedadjacent to the highway.

Current is supplied to each track section A-B and B-C by a battery 3which is connected in series with the usual impedance device 4. Trackrelays R and R are located at the junction 13 of the two track sectionsA-B and B-C, the operating coils of these relays being connected acrossthe rails of the two sections respectively.

A signal relay R responsive to the polarity of current supplied to itswinding, is located in the vicinity of hell S and is controlled bycircuits through contacts of track relays R and R in series withcontacts of said signal relay B A first pick-up circuit, of normalpolarity, for signal relay R is from battery 5, through wire 25, contact7 of relay R wire 27, contact 11 of relay R wire 40, contact 17 of relayR wire 38 wind- SeriaI No. 270,615.

ing of relay R and wire 37 to battery 5. A first stick circuit, ofnormal polarity, for signal relay B is from battery 5, through wires 25,36 and 3 1, normal contact 20 19 of relay R wires 33 and 32, contact 9of relay R wire'29, contact 15 of relay it wire 38, winding of relay Rand wire 37 to battery 5. A portion of this circuit, consisting of wire32 and contact 9, is in multiple with a path through wire 31 and contact13 of relay R A second pick-up circuit supplies current to signal relayR in reverse direction to that of the first or normal circuit. This second pick-up circuit is from battery 6,

through wire 37, winding of relay R wire 38, contact 16 of relay R wire15, contact 8 of relay Ri wire 28, contact 12 of relay R", and wires 42and 26 to battery 6. A second stick circuit is of the same polarity asthe second piclr-up circuit and is from battery 6, through wire 37,winding of relay R wire 38, contact 15, wire29, contact 13, wires 31 and33, contact 19-21 of relay B and wires 41, 42 and 26 to battery 6. Aportion of this second stick circuit, consisting of contact 13 and wire31, is in multiple with a path through contact 9 and wire 32.

In addition to back contacts 16 and 17 of relay R which are included inthe pick-up circuits thereof, and front contact 15 as well as normalcontact 19-20 and reverse contact 19-21 which are included in the stickcircuits thereof, relay R has a front contact 18, a normal contact22-23, and a reverse contact 22-2-1 which contacts are included in theoperating circuits of signal S.

One operating circuit for signal S includes batteries 5 and 6 in serieswith each other, and is from battery 5, through wires 25, 36 and 35,contacts 18 and 22-23, wire 46, contact 1 0 of relay R wire 14, bell S,and wires 43 and 26 to battery 6. A second operating circuit of signal Sincludes batteries 5 and 6 in series, and is from battery 5, through.wires25, 36 and 35, contacts 18 and 22-2 1, wire 39, contact-14L ofrelay R wires and 4A, bell S, and wires 43 and 26' to battery 6.

As shown in the drawing, all of the parts of the apparatus occupy thepositions corresponding to the normal or unoccupied condition of thesections A-B and B-(). Contact-s 19-20 and 22-23 are shown closed asthey would be if the last previous train had proceeded in the directionfrom A toward C.

In describing the operation of the apparatus in Fig. 1, I will firstassume that an east bound train, that is, a train moving from A towardC, enters the stretch of track shown in the drawing. When the trainenters the section AB, relay R becomes Clo-energized and closes its backcontact 7 thereby completing the normal pick-up circuit of relay Rthrough contact 11 of relay R and contact 17 of relay R Contact 17 thenstarts to open, but relay B is so constructed that contact 17 will notopen until after contact has closed and completed the normal stickcircuit through contacts 2019 and 9. Simultaneously with the closing ofcontact 15, contact 18 closes and completes the operating circuit ofbell S through contacts 18, 22-23 and 10. Bell S thereupon starts toring. when the train die-energizes relay R contact 13 drops and closesthe path which is in multiple with that portion of the stick circuitwhich consists of wire 32 and contact 9. When the train leaves sectionAB, relay R again becomes energized and opens contact 10, therebyopening the operat' circuit of bell S which then stops ringin As thetrain continues toward point 0 after leaving section A-B, relay Rcontinues energized by its normal stick circuit through contact 13 untilthe train moves out of section B-O.

The operation of the circuits for a westbound train is similar to thatjust described in connection with an eastbound train and will be readilyunderstood from the drawing without further explanation.

Referring now to Fig. 2, in which an embodiment of my invention is shownin connection with an automatic flagman of the wig-wag type, tracksections AB, B-C and signal relay R are the same as in Fig. 1. Signal Sbeing of the wig-wag type, has a holding winding which, when energized,latches the pendulum in one extreme position in which the signalindicates clear. This winding, when (lo-energized, permits the operationof a motor which causes the pendulum to swing back and forth to give awarning indication. For the controlling circuits of said holdingwinding, front contacts 47 and 48 are provided in Fig. 2 instead of backcontacts 10 and 14, respectively, of relays R and R in Fig. 1.

W hen sections A-B and B@ are unoccupied, a circuit for said holdingwinding of signal S will be closed through batteries 5 and 6 in series,wires 5%, 55 and 56, contact 47, wire 60, contact 48, wire 51, holdingwinding of signal S, and wires 50 and 26 to battery 6.

An eastbound train, entering section AB, tie-energizes relay R causingcontact 47 to open and thus breaking the holding circuit of signal SOperating current is now supplied to the motor of signals by batteries 5and 6 in series, through wires 54-. and 49, motor of signal S and wires50 and 26 to battery 6. Signal S then begins to wig-wag to warn users ofthe highway that a train is approaching. When the train leaves sectionAB, relay R again becomes energized, closing contact 47 in a secondholding circuit for signal S which is now completed through batteries 5and 6 in series, wires 54, 55 and 56, contact 47, wires and 53, contacts18 and 22-23, wires 52 and 51, holding winding of signal S, and wires 50and 26 to battery 6 As soon as this holding circuit becomes closed, theautomatic flagman ceases to wigwag.

The operation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2 for westbound traffic issimilar to that just described for the opposite direction and will bereadily understood from the drawing. 7

Referring now to Fig. 3 in which an embodiment of my invention is shownin con nection with flashing light signals, track sections AB, BC,associated relays R and R and signal relay R are the same as in 1. Toeffect the operation of flashing light signals S and S a flasher relay Fis provided in addition to the apparatus of Fig. 1.

Relay F is provided with two pick-up circuits, either of which, whenclosed, energizes alternately the operating coils of re lay F. Thealternating of the energization of the two coils is accomplished bymeans of a contact operated by the relay itself, and which shunts thecoils alternately, permitting, first, coil 62 to be energized while coil61 1s de-energized, and then coil 61 to be energized while coil 62 isole-energized. One pick-up circuit for relay F includes batten ms 5 and6 in series, and is from battery 5, through wires 25, 36 and 35,contacts 18 and 22-23, wire 16, contact 10, wire 72, op erating coil 62of relay F, contact 6365, and wires 75, 76, 4:1, 42, and 26 to battery6. C o1l 62, upon becoming energized by this circuit, attracts armatureM, thereby shiftmg the contacts of relay F to the reverse position. Thepath around coil 61 through contact 6365 and wire is thus opened and thecurrent supplied to relay F is then shunted around coil 62 through thepath including wires 7 3 andi l and contact 64-63 and energizes coil 61.A second pick-up circuit of relay F includes batteries 5 and 6 inseries, and is from battery 5, through wires 25, 36 and 35, contacts 18and 2224:, wire 39, contact 14-, wires 30 and 72, coil 62, contact 6365,and wires 75, 76, 4E1, 42, and 26 to battery 6. Y

The lamps of signal S and S are lighted by branch paths from the pickupcircuits of relay F. One of these branch paths is from wire 72, throughwires 73 and 77, contact 6668, wire 79, lamp L of signal S and wires 83and 26 to battery 6. A second branch path is from wire 72, through wires73 and 78, contact 69-71, Wire 80, lamp L of signal S and wires 84: and26 to battery 6. A third branch path is from wire 72, through wires 73and 77, contact 6667, wire 81, lamp L of signal S and wires 83 and 26 tobattery 6. A fourth branch path is from wire 72, through wires 73 and78, contact 6970, wire 82, lamp L of signal S and wires 84: and 26 tobattery 6.

When an eastbound train enters section A-B, the first pick-up circuit ofrelay F becomes closed through contacts 18, 22-23 and 10 and coil 62. Atthe same time, lamps IF and If become lighted by the branch pathsthrough contacts 69- 71 and 6668, respectively. Coil 62 thenattract-saunature M and shifts the contacts of relay F to the reverseposition, thereby opening the shunt path through contact 63-65 and wire75, closing the path through wire 74 and contact ti l-63, opening thelighting circuits of lamps L and L and closing the lighting circuits oflamps L and L through contacts 6970 and 66-67, respectively. Coil 6-1then attracts armature M and returns the contacts of relay F to theirformer position, thereby opening the lighting circuits of lamps L and Land closing. the lighting circuits of lamps L and L This alternatelighting of lamps L and L and lamps L and If continues until the trainleaves section Al3, permitting relay R to lift contact 10 and so openthe pick-up circuit of relay F and the lighting circuits of signals Sand S The operation of the apparatus shown in Fig. 3 for westboundtraffic is similar to that just described for the opposite direction andwill be readily understood from the drawing.

Although I have herein shown and described only three forms of apparatusembodying my invention, it is understood that various changes andmodifications may be made therein within the scope of the appendedclaims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In combination, two adjacent sections of railway track, a highwayintersecting said track adjacent the junction of said sections, a trackcircuit including a track relay for each section, a signal relayresponsive to the polarity of the current supplied to its winding, apick-up circuit for said signal relay including a back contact of thetrack relay for the first track section and a front contact of the trackrelay for the second section as well as a back contact of the signalrelay and said circuit including a source of current having normalpolarity, a stick circuit for said signal relay including said normalsource of current and a back contact of said first track relay or a backcontact of said second track relay as well as a normal contact of thesignal relay and a front contact of the signal relay, a second pick-upcircuit for said signal relay including a back contact of the trackrelay for the second track section and a front contact of the trackrelay for the first section as well as a back contact of the signalrelay and also including a source from which current flows through thesignal relay in the reverse direction to that of the first pickupcircuit, a second stick circuit for said signal relay including saidreverse source of current and a back contact of said second track relayor a back contact of said first track relay as well as a reverse contactof the signal relay and a front contact of thesignal relay, a highwaycrossing signal, an operating circuit for said signal including a sourceof current and a front contact and a normal contact of said signal relayas well as a back contact of said first track relay, a second operatingcircuit for said signal including a source of current and a frontcontact and a reverse contact of said signal relay as well as a backcontact of said second track relay.

2. In combination, two adjacent sections of railway track, a highwayintersecting said track adjacent the junction of said sections, a trackcircuit including a track relay for each section, a signal relaycontrolled by said track relays and responsive to the polarity of thecurrent supplied to its winding and having back contacts which do notopen until after its front contacts have closed, a highway crossingsignal, and means including said signal relay for causing said signal tooperate when either of said track relays is deenergized by a train inthe one section moving toward the other section.

3. In combination, two adjacent sections of railway track, a highwayintersecting said track adjacent the junction of said sections, a trackcircuit including a track relay for each section, a signal relaycontrolled by said track relays and responsive to the polar ity of thecurrent supplied to its winding, a stick circuit for said signal relayincluding a front and a normal contact thereof, a second stick circuitfor said signal relay including a front and a reverse contact thereof,and a highway crossing signal controlled by said signal relay.

a. In combination, two adjacent sections of railway track, a highwayintersecting said track adjacent the junction of said sections, a trackcircuit including a track relay for each section, a signal relaycontrolled by said track relays and responsive to the polarity of thecurrent supplied to its winding, a highway crossing signal, meansincluding said signal relay for causing said signal to operate when thefirst track relay is de-energized by a train moving in one direction,and means including said signal relay for causing said signal to operatewhen the second track relay is de-energized by a train moving in theopposite direction.

5. In combination, two adjacent sections of railway track, a highwayintersecting said track adjacent the junction of said sections, a trackcircuit including a track relay for each section, a signal relaycontrolled by said track relays and responsive to the polarity of thecurrent supplied to its winding, a hi hway crossing signal, means including a normal contact of said signal re lay and a back contact of thefirst track relay to cause the signal to operate when a train is movingin one direction, and means including a reverse contact of said signalrelay and a back contact of the second track relay to cause the signalto operate when a train is moving in the opposite direction.

6. In combination, two sections of railway track, a highway intersectingsaid track adjacent the junction of said sections, a track circuitincluding a track relay for each section, a si nal relay responsive tothe polarity of the current supplied to its winding, means forenergizing said signal relay by current of normal polarity when thefirst track relay is de-energized by a train moving toward the secondtrack section, means for keeping the signal relay so energized untilsaid train has passed through said second section,

means for energizing said signal relay by current of reverse polaritywhen the second track relay is de-energized by a train moving toward thefirst track section, means for keeping the signal relay energized bycurrent of reverse polarity until said train moving toward the firsttrack section has passed through said first section, a highway crossingsignal, and means including said signal relay for controlling saidsignal.

7. In combination, two sections of railway track, a highway intersectingsaid track adjacent the junction of said sections, a track circuitincluding atrack relay for each sec tion, a signal relay responsive tothe polarity of the current supplied to its winding, means forenergizing said signal relay by current of normal polarity when thefirst track relay is ole-energized by a train moving toward the secondtrack section, means for keeping the signal relay so energized untilsaid train has passed through said second section, means tor energizingsaid signal relay by current of reverse polarity when the second trackrelay is tie-energized by a train moving toward the first track section,means for keeping the signal relay energized by current of reversepolarity until said train moving toward the first track section haspassed through said first section, a hi hway crossing bell, and meansincluding said signal relay for controlling said bell.

In testimony whereof I aifiX my signature.

CHARLES A. BROOKS.

